Jesus Christ is described as Son of David, Son of Man and Son of God. His sonship speaks of his divinity and humanity and is closely associated with his role as promised Messiah, suffering Saviour, risen Lord and coming judge and king. It also speaks of his intimate, obedient and unique relationship with his Father and of his mission to enable people to become children of God through faith in him.
Jesus Christ as the Son of David
He is physically descended from David
Matthew 1:1 See also Matthew 1:2–20; Luke 1:27, Luke 1:32, Luke 2:4, Luke 2:11, Luke 3:23–38; Romans 1:3; 2 Timothy 2:8; Revelation 22:16
This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:
He is the promised royal Messiah of David's line
Isaiah 16:5 See also 2 Samuel 7:12–16 parallel 1 Chronicles 17:11–14; Psalm 89:1–4, Psalm 132:11, Psalm 132:17; Isaiah 9:7, Isaiah 11:1; Jeremiah 23:5–6, Jeremiah 33:15–16; Ezekiel 34:23–24, Ezekiel 37:24–25 Zechariah 3:8, Zechariah 6:12
in loving devotion a throne will be established in the tent of David. A judge seeking justice and hastening righteousness will sit on it in faithfulness.
He is both the Son and Lord of David
Matthew 22:41–45 parallels Mark 12:35–37, Luke 20:41–44 See also Psalm 110:1
While the Pharisees were assembled, Jesus questioned them: “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is He?” “David’s,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord’? For he says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand until I put Your enemies under Your feet.”’ So if David calls Him ‘Lord,’ how can He be David’s son?”
Jesus Christ as the Son of Man
Mark 2:10 parallels Matthew 9:6, Luke 5:24John 3:13 See also Daniel 7:13–14; Mark 2:28 parallels Matthew 12:8, Luke 6:5; John 1:51, John 6:27, John 8:28
But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...” He said to the paralytic,
No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven— the Son of Man.
Jesus Christ as the Son of God
His divine origin and divinity
Luke 1:32–35 See also John 1:13, John 1:18, John 5:18, John 17:5, John 17:24
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!” “How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.
His intimate relationship with the Father
Mark 14:36 “Abba” was a term of intimacy and familiarity that children used with their own fathers. See also Matthew 3:17 parallels Mark 1:11, Luke 3:22; Luke 2:49; John 1:18, John 1:32–34, John 3:35, John 5:20, John 8:38, John 14:31, John 17:23
“Abba, Father,” He said, “all things are possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.”
His knowledge of the Father's will
Matthew 11:25–27 parallel Luke 10:21–22 See also John 6:45–46, John 8:55, John 14:13–16, John 15:15
At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight. All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.
His obedience to the Father's mission
Matthew 26:42 parallels Mark 14:36, Luke 22:42 See also Matthew 3:13–17 parallels Mark 1:9–11, Luke 3:21–22 His baptism; Matthew 4:1–11 parallel Luke 4:1–13 His temptation; Matthew 12:50; John 3:17, John 8:55, John 10:17, John 10:36, John 14:31, John 17:8
A second time He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, may Your will be done.”
His sharing in the Father's work
John 3:34, John 4:34, John 5:17, John 5:21–26, John 6:40, John 8:16, John 9:4, John 12:49–50, John 14:11
His role as promised Messiah
Matthew 16:16 parallel Luke 9:20 See also 2 Samuel 7:12–14 parallel 1 Chronicles 17:11–13; Psalm 89:26–27; Isaiah 9:6–7; Matthew 1:23; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 2:15; Hosea 11:1; Matthew 26:63–64 parallels Mark 14:61–62, Luke 22:70; Luke 4:41, Luke 22:29–30; John 1:49, John 11:27, John 20:31; Acts 13:33; Hebrews 1:5, Hebrews 5:5; Psalm 2:7
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
His sharing the Father's character and being
Hebrews 1:3 See also John 1:14, John 5:26, John 6:57, John 10:30, John 17:5
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
The uniqueness of his sonship
John 3:16 See also John 1:18, John 3:18; Hebrews 1:3
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Jesus Christ's disciples become children of God through him
Galatians 4:4–7 See also Matthew 12:50; John 3:16–18, John 5:23–24, John 6:40, John 11:26–27, John 14:1–2, John 20:31; Romans 8:13–17; Ephesians 1:5–6
But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, you are also an heir through God.
Jesus Christ as the son of natural parents
Matthew 1:16, Matthew 1:25, Matthew 13:55 parallel Mark 6:3; Luke 2:7, Luke 2:48, Luke 3:23, Luke 4:22; John 1:45, John 6:42; Acts 1:14
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.